Operating device for dumping-doors.



D. S. BARROWS.

OPERATING DEVICE FOR DUMPING DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911.

Patented July 8, 1913.

WITNESSES z/1 M- ATTORNEY COLUMBIA I'LANUGRAPH cu. wAsmMn'uN. u. r

T FATENT FFIGE.

DONALD S. BARROWS, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR ANDFOUNDRY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OPERATING DEVICE FOR DUMPING-DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Application filed July 6, 1911. Serial No. 637,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD S. Barrows,residing at Paterson, Passaic county, New Jersey, and being a citizen ofthe United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOperating Devices for Dumping-Doors, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and to use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form ofthe invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof will occur to personsskilled in the art.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view of approximately one-half of theend of a dumping ear, showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 Fig. 1,and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

In the operation of drop doors for dumping cars, it is desirable inopening the doors, that said doors be free to drop by gravity to theirfully opened position as soon as the locking mechanism is releasedwithout the necessity for continuous manual operation.

The object of this invention is to provide, in combination with any formof door opcrating device wherein is employed a rotating shaft providedwith door operating and door locking elements, means for positivelyrotating said shaft and thereby actuating said operating and lockingmeans, and for positively releasing said locking means and leaving thedoor or doors free to fall when the locking device or devices have beenmoved into unlocked position.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises a worm 1,slidably mounted upon a worm shaft 2, which is journaled in suitablesupports 3 and 4- fixed to the end of the car body. An operating handwheel 5 is fitted upon the worm shaft 2 for rotating said shaft. Theworm 1 is connected to the shaft 2 in such manner as to be non-rotatablethereon as by having said shaft squared between the supports 3 and 4tand fitting into a squared axial opening 6 through the worm.

The space between the supports 3 and 4t. considerably greater than thelength of the worm 1 and said worm is of such length that its teeth willremain in mesh with the teeth of the gear 10 whether its end 11 is inengagement with the support 3, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, or itsend 12 is in engagement with the support 4L as shown by dotted lines insaid figure and the sliding movement of the worm along the shaft 2 issutticient to accommodate unobstructed rotation of the gear 10 throughslightly more than one-half a complete revolution.

While I have illustrated the operating shaft 7 for the doors 8 ascomprising radially projecting arms 9 adapted to engage under surfacesof said doors, it will be understood that said operating shaft may beformed or positioned in any manner within the terms of the descriptionhcreinbefore set forth. Fitted to the end of the operating shaft 7 is agear 10, the teeth of which are in constant engagement with the teeth ofthe worm 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the door to beclosed, and the worm 1 to be in the position indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1 and it is desired to open the door: Rotation of the end handwheel 5, in the direction indicated by the arrow on said wheel, willcause the worm to move along the shaft 2 into the position shown by fulllines through its engagement with the gear 10, whereupon continuedrotation of the hand wheel will cause rotation of the gear wheel 10 andwill rock the operating shaft 7 in a clockwise direction, the end 11 ofthe worm 1 standing in engagement with the inner surface of the bearingsupport 3. The support 3 will sustain a thrust from the worm 1 until theoperating shaft has been turned suflicicntly to release the door lockingmeans, which in the construction illustrated, will be until the outerend of the radial arm 9 is moved along the under surface of the door, toa point where the weight of the door, with its lading, is great enoughto overcome the friction and other elements tending to prevent rotationof the operating shaft, which point will be reached when the end of theoperating shaft has assumed approximately the position marked X on Fig.1 of the drawing, whereupon the weight of the door with its lading willforce the end of the arm 9 downwardly, rotating the shaft 7 and gear 10.

without rotation of the Worm shaft 2, the worm 1 during this movement ofthe door sliding longitudinally along the shaft 2 until said door isfully opened or until the lower end of the worm contacts with thesupport a. To close the door the operation is as follows: The end 12 ofthe worm 1 being in engagement with the stop 4:, rotation of the handwheel 5 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow on saidwheel will cause the gear 10, and thereby the operating shaft 7, withthe crank arm 9, to rotate in a contraclockwise direction and lift andlock the door positively in its closed position. Tendency to unlock isresisted by continued engagement of the end of the Worm with the support4 until the hand wheel is rotated as described for opening the door.

It is evident that the worm may be connected with any transverse memberof the car underframe and operate in' the manner described, and in caseswhere the drop doors do not extend substantially throughout the lengthof the fioor such arrangement would probably be preferred as therebyshorter shafts 7 may be used.

Havingthus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A mechanism for operating dumping doorscomprising, means for supporting said doors in locked position, andindepend ently mounted slidable and rotatable means for unlocking saiddoors, said unlocking means being adapted to permit movement of saiddoors from unlocked position to opened position and not to be rotatedduring such movement of the doors.

2. A. mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, and independently mountedrotatable means for unlocking said doors, said unlocking means beingadapted to be moved bodily by said doors after said doors are unlockedand without rotation of said unlocking means.

3. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, fiXed bearings, a shaftjournaled in said bearings and rotatable means mounted on. said shaftfor un locking said doors, said doors being adapted to move fromunlocked position to open position by a sliding movement of saidunlocking means.

4. A mechanism for operating dumping doors, comprising a crank shaftrotatable in fixed bearings for actuating said doors, a pinion on saidshaft, and a slidable worm cooperating with said pinion.

5. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, a rotatable shaft, meansslidably mounted on said shaft for unlocking said doors, said doorsbeing adapted to move from unlocked position to open position withoutrotation of said shaft.

6. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, a rotatable shaft, meansslidably mounted upon said shaft adapted for unlocking said doors, saiddoors being adapted to move from unlocked position to opened positionand to slide said unlocking'means along said shaft without rotating saidshaft.

7. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in lockedposition, an operating shaft for saidsupporting means, a worm gear on said operating shaft, means engagingsaid worm gear adapted to operate said shaft to unlock said doors andadapted to be moved freely by said worm gear after said doors areunlocked.

8. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, an operating shaft for saidsupporting means, a gear fixedly secured to said shaft and meansrotatable permanently in mesh with said gear and adapted to unlock saiddoors, said unlocking means being adapted to permit movement of saiddoors from unlocked position to opened position and not to be rotatedduring such movement of the doors.

9. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, a rotatable shaft for saidsupporting means, and independently supported means operativelyconnected with the shaft for rotating said shaft to unlock said doors,said last mentioned means being adapted to be moved freely bodily bysaid shaft after the doors are unlocked.

10. In an operating mechanism for dumping doors, the combinationcomprising a support, a rotatable operating shaft fixed relative to thesupport, and means adapted to rotate said shaft in one direction, saidmeans being adapted to be moved longitudinally of said shaft when saidshaft is rotated in the opposite direction. 1

11. In an operatin mechanism for dumping doors, the com inationcomprising a door, a rotatable door supporting shaft j ournaled in fixedposition, a gear fixed to said shaft, a rotatable longitudinallyslidable worm engaging said gear for rotating said shaft to raise saiddoor and to permit rotation of said shaft in a reverse direction whenthe door is dropping into an open position without rotating said worm.

12. In an operating mechanism for dumping doors, the combinationcomprising a freely falling door, a door supporting crank including arotatable operatin shaft, a gear fixed to said shaft, a slidablysupported rotatable Worm engaging said gear for rotating said shaft inone direction to raise said door, a support for said worm, said gearbeing adapted to slide said worm along its support when said shaft isrotated in a reverse direction by the door in its opening movementwithout rotating said worm.

13. In an operating mechanism for dumping doors, the combinationcomprising a door, a door actuating swinging crank shaft journaled infixed bearings, a gear fixed to said shaft, and a slidable Worm inconstant engagement with said gear.

14. The combination with a carbody and a door pivoted thereto, of adumping mechanism for the door, including a longitudinally slidable Wormhaving a fixed axis of rotation relative to the carbody, and co-actingmeans operatively connected therewith adapted to lock the door in closedposition.

15. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising a crank shaft forsupporting said doors in locked position, and independently mountedrotatable means comprising a worm for actuating said shaft, said meansbeing adapted to permit movement of said doors from unlocked position toopen position without rotation of said worm during such movement of thedoors.

16. A mechanism for operating dumping doors and comprising, means forsupporting said doors in locked position, and independently mountedrotatable means for unlocking said doors, said unlocking means beingadapted to be moved bodily by said doors after said doors are unlockedWithout rotation of said unlocking means.

17. A mechanism for operating dumping doors comprising a crank shaft forsupporting said doors in locked position, a pinion on said shaft, a wormin engagement there with adapted to unlock said doors, said worm beingadapted to permit movement of said doors from unlocked position toopened position Without rotation of the worm during such movement.

18. A mechanism for operating dumping doors, comprising a door, a crankshaft sup porting a door, means positively engaging said shaft to rotatethe same into a position to close said door, said means includingpermanontly engaging worm and pinion permitting said shaft to rotatefreely from said locking position without rotation of said worm.

19. In a device of the character described the combination of a door,free to drop from an unlocked position two rotatably mounted shafts oneof said shafts having a door lock ing part extending therefrom, a wormand gear connection between said shafts, said worm being slidablymounted on one of said shafts to permit the free rotation of the othershaft when the door is droppin 20. In a door closing device, thecombination of a door, a crank shaft, a worm shaft, a worm slidablymounted on said worm shaft, and a gear mounted on said crank shaft infixed position continuously engaging said worm.

21.. In a car, an underframe, a fixed bracket carried by saidunder-frame, a transverse shaft mounted in said bracket, aworm slidablymounted on and rotated by said shaft, a door supporting mechanism havinga gear fixed thereto and permanently in mesh with said worm.

22. In a hoisting device, a shaft freely rotatable in fixed bearing,means rotatably mounted in fixed position permanently and continuouslyengaging said shaft for rotating the same in either direction, saidmeans including mechanisms permitting the free rotary movement of saidshaft without ro tating said means.

23. In a door lifting device the combination of a door, a shaftnon-circular in cross section, a worm slidably mounted on said shaft, adoor lifting mechanism including a gear rotatably mounted in fixedposition and engaging said worm, whereby rotating said shaft willactuate said gear and the rotation of said gear will slide said wormalong said shaft.

24;. In a device of the character described, a fixed bearing, a rotatinshaft mounted in said bearing, door raising mechanism actuated by saidshaft, and means disposed transversely of said shaft for rotating thesame, said means slidably mounted relative to said rotating shaft,whereby said shaft may be actuated by a rotary movement of said means.

25. In a device of the character described, a door actuating mechanismincluding a rotatably mounted member, fixed bearings carrying saidmember a rotating member adapted to move said first mentioned member,and a permanent connection between said members, said connectionincluding a sliding mechanism adapted to transform r0- tary movement ofsaid first mentioned memher into a longitudinal movement.

26. In a door operating device, a shaft rotatable in fixed bearing, anda worm on said shaft capable of rotary and longitu In Witness whereof Ihave hereunto set dinal movement With movement of the door. my hand inthe presence of tWo Witnesses.

27. In a door actuating device, the combination of a door, a crank shaftrotatable DONALD S. BARROVVSV in fixed supports bearing on said door, a

pinion on said shaft, a Worm shaft, a Worm Witnesses:

slidable on said shaft and in constant en- G. V. WASHINGTON,

gagement With said pinion. A. KAssLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissionerof Patents, Washington, I). C.

